I don't know what I keep doing wrong when wet-felting beads, but mine keep coming out misshapen with creases in them, looking like...rabbit turds, mostly. I get lovely results with needle felting but it's so slow! Oh well, keep practicing I suppose...

Most likely we each have certain things that work for us. After some experimentation what I've noticed is that the "butts" or creases seem to form if one begins fulling too soon - that is before the felting stage is complete. Felting stage is the initial stage: getting the fibers to hold together well - when making a flat piece the pinch test is often used to identify readiness for fulling. Fulling as you probably know is more aggressive and more pressure - getting the fibers to shrink and make a firm felt.

Gentle rolling in your palms or on a bubble wrap until the ball is nicely round and holding together well works best for me. Then begin to apply more pressure - if the ball buckles or folds- back off and reduce pressure - if it holds shape then continue increasing pressure, rolling in all directions - then squeezing, then rinsing hot, cold, hot, cold.... throwing in the sink -- then rinsing and rolling again. Lots of people leave the beads/balls fairly loose barely into the felt stage. Other of us work the wool much further into the fulling stage to get quite firm felt balls.

Oh thanks, graceoblivious - I think that will help. I'm pretty sure that I was applying too much pressure too soon. I'll try it again this weekend! (once I finish with the sushi bead tutorial - I'm DYING to try that out!)

Hmmm... well, I had medium success with the wet-felted beads last night - still can't get the results I want from just wet-felting, but if I needle-felt the roving into a loose ball and then wet-felt it, it comes out nice.